FACTBOX: Key features of Senate auto bailout plan

Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:15am EST
 
[-] Text [+]

(Reuters) - Senate Democrats proposed legislation on Monday authorizing $25 billion in rescue loans for automakers and their suppliers by amending an existing law implementing a $700 billion financial sector rescue fund.

The White House and many Republicans in Congress oppose this approach, and instead advocate amending another program that gave U.S. automakers access to $25 billion in loans to retool their plants to meet new fuel-efficiency standards.

Lawmakers on both sides agree General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co, and Chrysler LLC should not be given a "blank check" to survive their worst-ever downturn.

Here follows the major features of the proposal by Senate Democrats:

* The government would take warrants or senior debt for shares in exchange for extending the loans.

* Help would come with limits on executive compensation and a prohibition on the payment of dividends.

* Automakers would need to show a plan for ensuring continued competitiveness.

* Ten-year loans, or longer, at the Treasury secretary's discretion.

* A 5 percent interest rate for the first five years, 9 percent for the remaining term. No prepayment penalty.

* A federal board would oversee compliance with the loan terms.

 

Featured Broker sponsored link

Editor's Choice

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.   Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

  • Articles
  • Video
Bernd Debusmann
America’s perennial Vietnam syndrome

History does not repeat itself, but the wartime struggles of President Obama in 2009 and President Johnson in 1963 are striking in their similarities. Does the ghost of Vietnam still hang over the White House?  Commentary